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SURPRISING HISTORY

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Jack the ... Giant Killer .

In the reign of the famous King Ar~.hur, there lived, near the Land's End of Eng­ land, in the County of , a worthy farmer, who had an only son, named Jack. Jack was a boy of a bold temper; he took pleasure in hearing, or reading, stories of wizards, conjurors, , and fairies; and used to listen eagerly, while his father talked of the great deeds of the brave knights of 's . When Jack was sent to take care of the sheep and oxen in the fields, he used to

amuse himself 1with planning battles, sieges, and the means to conquer or surprise a foe. He was above the common sports of children; but hardly any one could equal him at wrestling; or if he met with a :B 3 JACK, THE match for' himself in strength, his skill and address always made him. victor In those days, there lived on St. Mi­ chael's mount, off Cornwall, which rises out of the sea at some distance from the 1nain land, a huge Giant. He was eighteen feet high, and three yards round; and his :fierce and savage looks were the terror of all his neighbours. He dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the very top of a high monntain, and used to wade over to the main land in search of prey. When he came near, the people left their houses; and after he had glutted his appe­ tite upon their cattle, he would throw half­ a-dozen oxen upon his back and three times as many sheep and hogs round his waist, and march back to his own abode. The Giant had done this for many years, and the coast of Cornwall was greatly hurt by his thefts, when Jack boldly resolved to destroy him. Jack took a horn, a shovel, a pickaxe, his armour, and dark lantern; and early in GIANT KILLER. 7 a long winter's evening, he swam to the mount. There he fell to work at once, and before morning, he had dug a pit twenty two feet deep, and almost as many broad. He covered it over the top with sticks and straw, and strewed some earth over them, to make them look just like solid ground. He then put his horn to his mouth, and blew such a long and loud tantivy, that the Giant awoke, and came towards Jack, say­ ing, in a voice like thunder---" You saucy villain, you shall pay dearly for breaking my rest; I will broil you for my break­ fast." He had hardly spoken these words, when advancing one step further, he tumbled headlong into the pit, and his fall shook the mountain. " 0, oh! Mr. Giant," said Jack, look­ ing into the pit, "have you found your way so soon to the bottom? How is your appe­ tite now? Will nothing serve you for b1·eak­ fast this cold morning but broiling poor Jack?'' 8 , .SACK, THE The Giant now tried to rise; but Jack struck him a blow on the crown of the head with his pick-axe, which killed him at once. Jack then made haste back, to re­ joice his friends with the news of the Giant's death. Now, when the Justices of Cornwall heard of this valiant action, they sent for Jack, and declared that he should always be called Jack the Giant-Killer; and they also gave him a sword and belt upon which were written in letters of gold-

"This is the valiant Cornishman, Who slew the Giant ."

The news of Jack's exploit was soon spread over the western parts of England ; and another Giant, named Old Blun­ derbore, vowed to have his revenge on Jack, if it should ever be his fortune to get him in his power. This Giant kept an enchanted castle in the rnicist of a lonely wood. Now about four months after the death of Cormoran, as GIANT KILLER. 9 Jack was taking a journey to Wales, he passed through this wood : and, as he was very weary, he sat down to rest by the side of a pleasant fountain, and there fell into a deep sleep. The Giant came to the fountain for water just at this time, and found .,' Jack there ; and as the lines on Jack's- belt shewed who he was, the Giant lifted him up, and laid him gently upon his shoulder, to carry him to his castle. But as he passed through the thicket, the rustling of the leaves awoke Jack; and he was sadly afraid when he found himself in the clutches of old . Yet this was nothing to his fright soon after; for when they reached the castle, he beheld the floor covered all over with skulls and bones of men and women. The Giant took him into a large .room where ther~ lay the hearts and limbs of per­ sons who had been lately killed; and he told Jack, with a honid grin, that men's hearts, eaten with pepper and vipegar, were B4 10 JACK, THE his nicest food; and also that he thought he should make a dainty meal of his heart. When he had said this, he locked Jack up in that room while he went to fetch another Giant to enjoy a dinner off Jack with him. While he was away, Jack heard dread­ ful shrieks, groans, and cries, from many p arts of the L""'astle; and soon after he heard a mournful voice repeat these lines ~

'' Haste, valiant stranger, haste away, Lest you become the Giants' prey; On his return, he'll bring another, Still more savage than his brother- A horritl, cruel mon ter, who Before he kills, will torture you. Oh! valiant tr~nger! haste away, Or y'lu'll become the Giant's prey."

This warning was so shocking to Poor Jack, that he was rea

H Though here you lodge with me this night, You shall not see the morning· light; My club shall dash yom brains out quite."

0 " Say you so, thought Jack; " are these your tricks upon travellers~ But I hope to be as cunning as you are." Then getting out of bed, he groped about the room, and at last found a large thick billet of wood. He laid it in his own place in the bed, and then hid himself in a dark corner of th€ room. In the Iniddle of the night, the sly Giant came with his great club, and struck many heavy blows on the bed, in the very place where Jack had laid the billet; and he then went back to his own room, thinking he had broken all Jack's bones. Earlty in the morning Jack got up and l\ 5 14 JACK, THE walked into the Giant's room to thank him for his lodging. The Giant started when he saw him, and began to stammer out­ "Oh! dear me! is it you? . Pray, how did you sleep last night? Did ydu hear or see any thing in the dead of the night?". " Nothing worth speaking of, " said Jack carelessly; " a rat, I believe, gave me three or four slaps with his tai°I, and dis­ turbed me a little; but I soon went to sleep agam.. " The Giant wondered more and more at this, yet he did not answer a word, but went to fetch two great bowls of hasty-puu­ ding for their breakfast: Jack wanted to make the Giant believe, that he could eat as much as himself; so he contrived to button a leather bag inside his coat, and slipt the hasty-pudding into the bag, while he seemed to put it in his mouth. When breakfast was over, he said to the Giant-"Now, I will shew you a fine trick. I can cure all wounds by a touch. I could cut off my head one minute,- and in the next GIANT KILLER. 15 put it agam on my shoulders. You shall see an example." He then took hold ot a knife, ripped up the leather bag, and all the hasty-pudding tumbled out upon the floor. "Odds splutter hur nails," cried the Giant, who was ashamed to be out-done by s?-ch a little fellow as Jack, " hur can do that hurself: " so snatching up the knife, he plunged it into his stomach, and in a mo­ ment dropped down dead. In a few days, Jack overtook King Arthur's only son, who had got his father's leave to travel into Wales, to deliver a beautiful lady from the power of a wicked magi­ cian. When Jack found that the young prince had no servants with him, he begged leave to attend him : the prince at once agreed to this, and gave Jack many thanks for his kindness. The prince was a handsome, polite., and brave knight, and so good-natured that he gave money to every body he met. Night 16 JACK, THE now came on, and the prince began to be uneasy at thinking where thry should lodge. ''Sir," said Jack> " be of good cheer: two miles further there lives a Giant whom I know well: he has \hree heads, and can fight five h1:1ndred men, and tnake them fly before him, like chaff before the wind." " Alas !" replied the prince, " we had better never have been born than meet with such a monster." "My lord," said Jack, leave me to manage him; and wait till I return." The prince now staid behind., while Jack rode on at full speed; and when he came to the castle-gate) he gave a loud knock. The Giant, with a voice like thunder, roared out "Who is there?" Jack made answer, " Ko one, but your poor cousin Jack." " Well/' said the Giant, " what news, cousin?" "Dear uncle," said Jack, "heavy news.'' " Pooh," said the Giant, " what heav:y new. can come to me? I am a Giant, with three heads, and can fight five hundred men, and make them GIANT KILLER, 17 fly before me, like chaff before the wind." " Alas!" said Jack, " the King's son is coming with two thousand n1en, to kill you, and destroy the castle and all that you have." " Oh ! cousin Jack/' said the Giant, "this is heavy news indead; but I have a large cellar under ground, where I will hide myself; and you shall lock, bolt, and bar me in, and keep the key, till the king's son is gone." Now, when Jack had made the Giant fast in the vault, he went back, and fetched the prince to the castle, and they both 111adc themselves merry with the wine and other dainties that were in the castle. So that night they rested very pleasantly, while the poor Giant lay trembling and shaking ·with fear 1n the cellar under ground. Early 1n the morning, Jack gave the King's son gold and silver out of the Giapt' ~ trea.sure, and set him three miles forward on h~s journey. 13 6 18 aAcK, THE He then went back to let his uncle out of the cellar, who asked what reward he should give him for saving his castle. " Why, good uncle, " said J aGk,. " I desire nothing but the old coat and cap, ancl the old rusty sword and slippers; that are hang­ ing at your bed's-head." " Then," said ,the Giant~ . " you s-hall have them.'; and pray keep the1il for my sake, for they are things of great 11se. The coat will keep you invisible, the cap will give you knowledge, the sword cuts through any thing, and the shoes are of a vast swift­ ness : these may be useful to you in the times of danger; so take them. with all my heart." Jack gave many thanks to the Giant, ancl set off to join the prince. After he had overtaken the King's son, they arrived at the dwelling of the beau­ tiful lady, who was under the power of ·a wicked magician. She received the prince very politely, and made a noble feast for him; and when it was ended, she arose, and wiping her mouth with a fine GIANT KILLER. 19 handkerchief, said, "My Lord, you must submit to the custom of my palace: I com­ mand you to tell me to-morrow morning, on whom I'm to bestow this handkerchief, or you will lose your head." She then went out of the room, and the prince and Jack soon after retired. The prince went to bed very mournful; but Jack put on his cap of knowledge, which told him, that the lady was forced, by the power of enchantment, to meet the ' magician every night in the middle of the foTest. He now put on his· invisible coat, and his shoes of swiftness, and was there before her. When the lady came, she gave the handkerchief to the magician. Jack with his sword of sharpness, one blow cut off his head; the enchantment ended in a moment, and the ladywas res tored to her former virtue and goodness. She was married to the prince the next day, and soon after went back with her royal husband and a great company, to the court of good King Arthur, where 20 JACK, THE met with loud and joyful welceme; and the valiant hero Jack, for the many great ex­ ploits he had done for the good of his coun­ try, was made one of the knights of the round table. · As Jack had been so lucky in all his ad­ ventures, he resolved not to be idle for the future, but still to do what services he could for the honour of his King and country. " For,'' saiu he to the King., "many Giants yet live among the moun­ tains, in the remote parts of Wales, to the great terror and annoyance of your Majes­ ty's subjects; therefore, if it please you, Sire, to favour .me in my design, I will soon rid your kingdom of these monsters in human shape." Now, when the· King heard the offer, and thought of the cruel deeds of these blood-thirsty Giants and cruel monsters, he gave Jack every thing proper for such a Journey. After this he took leave of the King, the prince, and all the knights, and then set off. GIANT KILLER, 21 He travelled over high hills and lofty mountains, and on the third day he came to a large and spacious forest, , through which his road lay. Scarce had he entered the forest, when on a sudden he heard very dreadful shrieks ~nd cries. He pressed on through the trees, and beheld a monstrous Giant dragging along by the hair of their heads, a handsome knight and his beauti­ ful lady. Their tears and cries melted the heart of honest Jack to pity and compas­ sion : he alighted from his horse, and tying hirn to an oak tree, put on his invisible coat, under which he carried his sword of sharpness. When he came up to the Giant, he made several strokes at him, but could not reach his body on account of his enormous height but he wounded his thighs in several pla­ ces; and at last, putting both hands to his sword, and aiming with all his might, he cut off both the Giant's legs just below the garter; and the trunk of his body tum­ bling to the ground, ~ made not only the 22 JACK, THE trees shake, but the earth itself tremble, with the force of his falling. Then Jack, setting his foot upon his neck, exclaimed " Thou barbarous and savage wretch! behold I am come to execute upon thee the just reward for all thy crimes," and instantly plunging his sword into the Giant's body, the huge monster gave a hideous groan, and yielded up his life into the hands of the victorious Jack the Giant­ killer, whilst the noble knight and his vir­ tuous lady were both joyful spectators of his sudden death and their deliverance. " Now," said Jack, " I cannot be at ease till I find out the den that was this monster's habitation." The knight hearing this, grew sorrow­ ful, and replied, " K able stranger, it is too much to run a second hazard; this mon­ ster lived in a den, under yon mountain, with a brother of his, more fierce and cruel than himself; therefore, let me persuade you to go with us, and desist from any farther pursuit." GIANT .KILLEil. 23 "Nay," answered Jack, "if there be another, even if there were twenty, I would shed the last drop of my blood in my body before one of them should escape my fury. When I have finished · this task, I will come and pay my respects ·to you. So, taking directions to find th~ir habi...'. tation, he mounted his horse, leaving the knight and his lady to return home, and went in pursuit of the Giant's brother. Jack had not rode above a mile and a half, before he came· within sight of t~e cavern: near the entrance of which he beheld the other Giant sitting on a huge block of timber, with a knotted iron club in his hand, waiting for the return of his brother, loaded with his barbarous prey. His eyes appeared like terrible flames of fire: his countenance was grim and ugly; and his cheeks looked like two fl.itches of bacon; the bristles of his beard seemed to be like thick rods of iron wire; and his locks of hair were like curling snakes, and hissing adders. 24 JACK, THE Jack alighted from his horse, and put him into a thicket; then, with his coat of darkness, he approached somewhat near­ er to behold his figure; and said softly, " 0 monster ! are you there? It will not be long before I shall take you fast by the beard." The Giant, all this while, could not see his foe, by reason of his invisible coat; so coming close to him Jack struck a blow at his head with his sword of sharpness ; but, missing something of his aim, he only cut off the nose of the Giant, who then roared like loud claps of thunder. And, though he rolled his glaring eyes on every side, he could not see from whence the blow came, that had done him that mischief; yet taking up his irqn club, he began to lay about him like one that was mad with pain and fury. "Nay," said Jack," if this is your way, I had better dispatch you soon." So, slip­ ping dexterously behind him, and jumping nimbly upon the block of timber, as the GIANT KILLER. 25 Giant ros_e from it, he stabbed him in the back., when, after a few howls, he drop­ p~d down dead. Jack cut off his head, and sent it, with that of his brother whom he had killed in the. forest, to King Arthur, by a waggon wliirJi he hired for that purpose, together with an account of all his prosperous un­ dertakings. Jack having thus dispatched these two monsters, resolved to enter the cave in 'Search of their treasure, He passed through a great many turnings and windings, which led him him at last to a great room paved with free-stone, at the upper end of which which was a boiling chauldron, and on the right hand stood a large table, whereon he .supposed the Giants used to dine. He then. came to an iron gate, where a window was secured with bars of iron, through which be beheld a number of prisoners ; who seeing Jack cried out, " Alas ! alas ! young man ! art thou come to be one amongst us in this most horrible 26 JACK, THE dismal den?" "I hope," says Jack, "you will not tarry here long ; for I have slain both the Giants with this sword, and have sent .their monstrous heads in a wag­ gon to the court of King Arthur, as tro­ phies of my glorious victory." And in testimony of the truth of what he said, un­ locked the iron gate, setting the prisoners at liberty; who all rejoiced like condemned malefactors at the sight of a reprieve. Then, leading them to the great room, he placed them round the table, and set before them two quarters of beef, with bread and wine; upon which they feasted plentifully. Supper being over, they searched the Giants coffer's, the store of which Jack equally divided among the captives; who gratefully thanked him for their happy de­ liverance., and they departed for their re­ spective habitations. It w~s at the hour of sun-rise in the­ morning., that Jack mounted his horse to proceed on his journey. He arrived at the knight's house about noon; where he was GIANT KILLER, 27 received with every demonstration of joy imaginable, by the grateful knight and the beautiful lady; who, in honour of Jack's victory) gave a splendid entertainment., which lasted many days, and to which all the nobility and gentry in that part of the country were invited. When the company were assembled, the knight related the noble exploit of Jack and presented him, as a token of gratitude, with a 1110st magnificent ring, on which was engrn.ven the picture of the Giant dragging the knight and his lady by the hair, with this motto round it-

'' Behold! in

Among the guests then present, were figv e aged entlemen, who were fathers to s01ne of those miserable captives who hp.d been liberated by Jack from the dungeon of the Giants. 28 JACK, THE As soon as they understood that he was the person who had performed such won. ders, the venerable men, with tears of gratitude, pressed round him, to re­ turn him thanks for the happiness he had procured them and their families. After this, the bowl went round, and every one drank to the health and long life of the gallant conqueror. Mirth increased, and the hall resounded with peals of laughter, and joyful accla­ mations. But suddenly, a herald) pale and breath­ less, with haste and terror, rushed into the midst of the company, and told them that Thundol, a ferocious Giant, with two heads, having heard of the death of his kinsmen, was come from the north to be revenged on Jack., and that he was within a few miles of the house, the country people all fly1ng before him, like chaff before the wind. . At these tidings the very boldest of the guests trembled with confu. jnn :mil clis- GIANT KILLER, 29 1nay; while the undaunted Jack brandish­ ed his sword, and said, " Let him come ; 1 have a rod to chastise him also." The good knight's house was situate on :an island, encompassed with a moat fifteen feet deep, and twenty wide, over which was a draw-bridge. Jack employed two n1en t o cut the bridge almost to the middle; and th~n putting on his invisible coat, he went out against the Giant, with his sword of sharpness. As he came close up to him, though he .could not see him, by reason of his invisi­ .ble coat, yet he was sensible of some im­ _pending danger, which made him .cry out-

" Fe, fa, fo, furn., I smell the blood of an Englishman: Be he alive, or be he dead, I'll g·rind his bones to make me bread.''

"Say you so, my friend?" says Jack, ·" you are a monstrous miller, indeed." Art thou," cried the Giant, " the villain who killed mv. kinsmen? Then I will tear 30 JACK, THE thee with my teeth, and grind thy bones to powder." "You must catch me, first," A said Jack ; and throwing off his coat of darkness, and putting on his shoes of swift­ ness, he began to run; the Giant stalking after, like a walking castle, made the earth shake at every step. Jack led him round and round the walls of the house) that the company might see this~ monster of nature; and to finish the work, Jack ran over the drawbridge, the Giant still pursuing with his club ; but coming to the middle, where the bridge had been cut on each side by Jack's order, with the very great weight of his body, and the vast steps he took, it broke, and he tum­ bled into the water, and rolled about like a large whale. Jack standing by the moat, laughed at him, and jeered him for some time; and at last, ordering a cart-rope to be brought to him, he cast it over the Giant's two heaJs, and by the help of horses, he drag­ ged hirn to the edge of the moat, where; GIANT KILLER, 31 in the presence of the knight and his guests, he cut off the monster's heads ; and before he ate or drank, sent them to the court of King Arthur. He then returned to the company and the remainder of the day wa$. spent in mirthand good cheer. After staying with the knight for some time, Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set out again in search of new adventures. He went over hills and dales till he came to the foot of a very high mountain, where lived a venerable old man, with, a head as white as snow. "My son,'" said the hermit, " I know you are the famo'1.s conqueror of the Giants; now, on the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle, kept by a Giant named Galligantus, who, by the help of a vile magician, gets many knights and fair ladies into his castle, where he changes them into shapes of beasts ancl birds. Above all~ I lament the hard fate of a duke's daughter, whom they seized as she was walking in her father's 32 .JA,CK, THE garden, and brought hither in the air in a chariot drawn by two fiery dragons, and turned her into the shape of a deer. Many knights have tried to destroy the enchant­ ment, and deliver her; but none have been able to effect it by reason of two fiery grif­ fins, who guard the gates of the castle, and destroy all who come nigh. But as you, my son, have an invisible coat, you may pass by them without being seen; and on the gates of the castle you will find en­ graven by what means the enchantment may be broken." Jack promised, that in the morning, at the risk of his life, he would destroy the enchantment; and soon after retired to rest. Jack arose early the next morning, put on his invisible coat, and departed on his perilous enterprise. When he arrived at the castle gate, he found a golden trumpet, under which were written the following lines: "Whoever can this trumpet blow, Shall cause tbe Giant's overthrow." G 1AN1' K.1L1.lllt. • 33 As soon as Jack read this; he seized the trumpet, and blew a loud blast, which made the gates fly open, and the very castle itself tremble, and instantly vanish away like smoke. The Giant and the conjuror, knowing that their wicked course was at an end, stood biting their thumbs., and shaking and trembling with fear. Jack, with hi~ sword of sharpness, soon killed the Giant; and the vile magician was then carried away in a whirlwind. Every knight and lady, who had been changed into beasts and birds, instantly recovered their proper shapes, and flock ... ed round their gallant deliverer, and than­ ked him in the most grateful manner, for their happy escape. After this Jack cut off the head of Galigantus, and sent it, together with an account of his proceed... ings, to King Arthur. The knights and ladies rested that night at the old man's hermitage, and the next day they all set out for their respective 84 ·. homes-. Jack and the duke's daughter then departed to the court: of King Arthur, where they arrived safe,

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